Driving mechanism for washing machines



6 1927." Sept F. MAus DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 16, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet l 6 1927. Sept F. MAus DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I nvenior.

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Filed March 16, 1925 6 1927. Sept F. MAUS DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 16,1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Invehtor. V Gila wk clmai.

' 6 1927. Sept F. MAUS DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed March 16, 1925 4 Sheets$he et I raven/tor. I

dzfitor Patented Sept. 5, 32?.

FRANK MAUS, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T JOHNSON WASHER COMPANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

Application filed March 16, 1925. Serial No. 15,837.

This invention relates to a driving mechanism for washing machines.-

Washing machines in general use today all depend upon a common principle of opt eration, to-wit, that of forcing water, to gether with soap or other cleansing agent, through the fabric or clothes to be washed. Certain types of machines accomplish this result by maintaining the clothes in a more 1 or less stationary condition while water is forced back and forth through the fabric, while other types and, in fact, the majority of machines in use impart movement both to the water and the clothes and thereby force 1 water through the fabric.

Washing machines operating on the general principle above stated are not alto-' gether satisfactory for the reason that no means is provided for controlling the veloc- 2 ity of the Water when passing through the fabric and they are therefore too destructive when delicate fabrics are handled or too slow and ineficient when coarserfabrics are considered.

The object of the present invention is to provide a type of washing machine and a driving mechanism therefor which will ermit properand eflicient handling of all abrics from the coarsest to the most delicate, this being accomplished by regulating the velocity of the water while passing through the fabric whether the fabric be free to move or while held in a more or less stationary condition.

One form which my invention may assume is exemplified in the following descri tion and illustrated in the accompanying rawings, in which Fi 1 is a side elevation of the washing machine, said side elevation being partly broken away and being 'shown partially 1n section;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the crank mechanism whereby an oscillating movement is transmitted to the tub of the washing machine;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section of the base of the washin machine, said section showing the comp ete driving mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the base and the mechanism;

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are diagrammaticviews showing difierent positions assumed by the crank mechanism when transmitting an oscillating movement to the tub.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, A indicates a base member supported on legs 2. Forming a portion of the base and extending upwardly therefrom is a central bearing column 3. This column is hollow and carries a shaft 4 and a tub generally indicated at B. A driving connection is formed between the Shaftand'the tub as indicated at 5; a support is formed for the tub independent of the shaft as indicated at 6, and means are employed for imparting an oscillatin movement to the shaft and the tub, as wi hereinafter be described.

. The support for the tub consists of an interior hub 6 through which shaft 4 extends.

The driving connection 5 between the tub and the shaft consists of a collar or plate secured on the shaft. This plate is proyided with three or more peripheral openings as indicated at 7 and pins or lugs 8 are formed on the tub to project into the openings to form the driving connection between the tub, the plate and the shaft. This connection is of more or less importance as it permits ready removal of the tub for cleaning purposes, shipping, packing or otherwise. This feature will, however, form the subject matter of another application.

The tub proper has a shape substantially as, shown. It is provided with a. set of inner vanes 9 and aset of peripherally arranged or exterior vanes 10, these vanes serving the purpose of imparting movement to the water in the tub during the washing operation. The tub proper, the shape and the arrangement of the vanes, etc., also form the subject matter of a separate application about to be filed and will therefore not be described in further detail.

The driving mechanism whereby an oscillating movement is transmitted to the shaft 4 and the tub B forms the subject matter of the present application. This mechanism is best illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 and will be described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 3 it will be noted that a driving shaft 11 is journalled in the lower part of the base and that it carries a worm gear 12 which is maintained in constant mesh with a worm pinion 13. This pinion is secured on a shaft 14 which is journalled source of power, as shown at 18.

Carried by the worm gear 12 is a crank pin 19 and actuated thereby is a connecting rod 20, the function of which will hereinafter be described.

Secured to the underside of the base member A in alignment with the driving shaft 11, and directly above the same, is a shaft 21, and pivotally mounted on the shaft is an adjusting lever 22. The adjusting lever extends substantially across the base and its opposite end is projected upwardly, as at 23, through a segmental-shaped slot 24. It is provided with a handle 25 to permit it to be moved from end. to end of the slot and it is locked when adjusted by means of a pin 26, several perforations being provided, as at 27, to receive the pin or in. other words to lock the adjusting lever in different positions. The lever is secured against downward movement on the shaft 21, as it is supported by a pair of yoke members generally indicated at 28. operates with the variable stroke crank mechanism generally indicated at C in Figs. 2 and 3.

The variable stroke crank mechanism con sists of a main crank arm 29 secured on the lower end of shaft 4, a lever arm 30 and an intermediate crank arm 31. The lever arm 30 is pivotally mounted, as at 32, in the outer end of the main crank arm 29 and the opposite end of the lever arm is therefore free to swing about the pivotal connection 32. The lever arm is channel-shaped in cross-section .and as such forms a guide for the intermediate crank arm 31. The .intermediate crank arm is pivotally connected at one end, as at 33, to the adjusting lever 22 and, in fact, is supported thereby. The opposite end of the intermediate crank arm is connected, as at 34, with the connecting rod 20.

The operation of the crank mechanism generally indicated at C will be as follows: Referring to Figs. 5,6 and 7, and particularly to Fig. 7 it will be noted that the ad- .justin' lever 22 assumes a position where the pivota connection 33 aligns with the outer end of the main crank arm 29 and the. pivotal connection 32 formed between the; main crank arm and the lever arm 30. Crankpin 19has a uniform and constant stroke and connecting rod 20 will therefore also have a uniform and. constant stroke. One end of the connecting rodis connected to the crank pin 19 and the other end is connected as at 34\to the intermediate crank arm, and an oscillating movement will therefore be transmitted to the intermediate crank arm and to the lever arm 30 as both are' free to swing about their pivotal connections shown at The adjusting lever 00- 32 and 33, and as these pivotal connections are disposed one above the other 1 and in alignment with each other, as shown in Fig. 7 lever arm 30 and crank arm 31 will, obviously, swing in unison and no movement will be transmitted to the main crank arm 29.

The position shown in Fig. 7 is the neutral position of the crank mechanism. The position shown in Fig. 6 will cause a half stroke to be transmitted to the shaft 4 and the tub, and the position shown in Fig. 5 will produce a maximum stroke.

Before proceeding further with the description of the operation of the crank mechanism C, it might be stated that the intermediate crank arm 31 is provided with an upwardly extended 'arm 40 which is connected with a slide bar 41. (See Fig. 2.) This slide bar slides, together with the crank arm 31, in the channel of the lever arm 30 and as the adjusting lever 22 is swung from end to end of the slot 24, crank arm 31, t0)- gether with the slide bar 41, will slide from end to end of the lever arm 30. This sliding movement will cause a variable oscillat- 1ng movement or stroke to be transmitted to the main crank arm 29. If the adjusting lever assumes the position shown in Fig. 6, a half stroke will be transmitted to the main crank arm. This is due to the fact that the pivotal. connection 33 between the adjusting lever and the crank arm 31 assumes the position indicated at 33*. The position of the connecting rod 20 will also be changed and the connection 34 will assume the position shown at 34*. The pivotal connection 32 between the lever 30 and the main crank arm is always the same and a swinging movement will therefore be transmitted through the connecting rod, the crank arm 31 and lever 30, to rock the main crank 29 from the full line position shown in Fig. 6 to the dotted line position, this being due'to the fact that lever 30 will swing. about the connection 33 as a pivot. The maximum stroke position is shown in Fig. 5. In'that instance the pivotal connection 33 will assume the posltion shown at 33", and the lever arm 30 will therefore swing about this pivotal connection and will cause the main crank to swing between the full line position shown to the dotted line position, thus materiall cillating stroke.

Only three positions are shown, but it is obvious that any position desired may be assumed between the positions indicated, as it is only a-matter of securing the adjusting lever wherever desired.

The oscillating movement transmitted to the shaft 4 and the tub is dependedupon to set the water in the tub into'motion, or to impart velocity thereto. This can be readily understood when it is realized that the vanes within the tub are practically suby' ncreaslng the osmerged in the water contained therein and they therefore grip the water and set it into motion, first in one direction and then in the other. Hence, if clothing is placed in the tub and between the vanes, it is obvious that the water will be forced back and forth through the fabric of the clothing as the washing operation proceeds.

If a crank mechanism of a given stroke were employed, it is obvious that the velocity of the water would be constant and that delicate fabrics might be injured while coarser fabrics would be more or less inefliciently handled. It is for this reason that a variable crank mechanism is employed, so that the velocity of the water may be increased or 1 it is only necessary to move the adjusting lever to a position where the stroke will be increased as desired. The velocity of the Water is thus increased and the washing operation will naturally be'more rapid and effective.

It might appear from a brief review of the drawings and the description so far submitted that the mechanism is only capable of one function, to-wit, that of increasing or decreasing the stroke or oscillating movement transmitted to the tub. If this were the case, it is obvious that the velocity of the water within the tub would not be changed. It however happens that the velocity or movement of the water within the tub increases or decreases with an increase or decrease of the stroke; that is, the variable crank mechanism is so constructed that the peripheral speed of the tub increases as the stroke increases or, conversely, decreases as the stroke decreases, and it is due to the increase or decrease of the peripheral speed that the velocity of the water is increased or decreased.

By referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that a pair of springs 50 and 51 are attached to the connecting rod 20 the opposite end of the springs being attached to the adjusting lever 22 at the points indicated at 52 and 53. These springs are important as they cushion the oscillating movement of the shaft 4 and the tub at the end of each oscillating stroke, thus relieving the mechanism of considerable strain, wear and tear. It should also be noted that the adjusting lever 22 serves as a fulcrum point for the intermediate crank 31. This is important as the adjusting lever takes all the strain of the oscillating movement either in tension or compression, thus relieving the connecting rod'20 and the driving mechanism of unnecessary wear and tear.

While the driving mechanism here illustrated is shown as connected with a tub which oscillates, it is obvious that the movement might be transmitted to an impeller within the tub. It should also be understood that while many features of the invention are more or less specifically illustrated, various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that the materials and finish of the several parts employed may be such as the experience and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or various uses may demand.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A driving mechanism for washing machines comprising a vertically disposed shaft, a main crank arm secured on the lower end thereof, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the outer end of the crank, an adjusting member movable substantially lengthwise of the main crank and lever arm, an intermediate crank pivotally mounted on the adjusting member and slidable on the lever arm, and means for transmitting an oscillating movement to the intermediate crank and lever arm about the pivot on the adjusting member.

2. A driving mechanism for washing machines comprising a vertically disposed shaft, a main crank arm secured on the lower end thereof, a lever arm pivotally mounted inthe outer end of the crank, an adjusting member movable substantially lengthwise of the main crank and lever arm, an intefmediate crank pivotally mounted on the adjusting member and slidable on the lever arm, means for transmitting an oscillating movement to the intermediate crank and lever arm about? the pivot on the adjusting member, and means for securing adjustment at predetermined positions with relation to the main crank and lever arm.

3. A driving mechanism for washing machines comprising a vertically disposed shaft, a main crank arm secured on the lower end thereof, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the outer end of the crank, a driving shaft and a crank thereon, an adjusting lever pivoted at one end and having its opposite end mounted free to swing, an intermediate crank pivotally mounted on said lever and movable substantially longitudinally of the main crank and lever arm when the free end i shaft, a main crank arm secured on the-lower end thereof, a lever arm pivotally mounted in the outer end of the crank, a driving shaft and a crank thereon, an adjusting lever pivoted at one end and having its opposite endmounted free to swing, an intermediate crank pivotally mounted on said lever and movable substantially longitudinally of the main crank and lever arm when the free end of the adjusting lever is swung, a sliding connection formed between the intermediate crank and the lever arm, a rod connecting the drive shaft crank and the intermediate crank, and means for securing the free end of the adjusting lever at predetermined positions.

5. A driving mechanism for washing machines comprising a vertically disposed shaft, a main crank arm secured on the lower end thereof, a channel shaped lever arm pivotally mounted in the outer end of the crank,

a bar s'lidably mounted in the channel, an intermediate crank secured to said bar and maintained in parallelism therewith, a drive shaft crank, a connecting rod connecting the drive shaft crank and one end of the intermediate crank, an adjusting member movable substantially lengthwise of the main crank and the channel shaped lever arm, and a pivotal connection formed hetw een the opposite end of the intermediate crank and v the adjusting member.

FRANK Mans. 

